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National Transportation Safety Board Printed on : 1/3/2011 6:06:44 PM

Washington, DC 20594

Brief of Accident

Adopted 04/28/2004

FTW02FA048
File No. 15284 12/10/2001 Sierra Blanca, TX Aircraft Reg No. N997TD Time (Local): 18:21 MST

Make/Model: Gates Learjet / 24D Fatal Serious Minor/None


Engine Make/Model: General Electric / CJ610-6 Crew 2 0 0
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed Pass 0 0 0
Number of Engines: 2
Operating Certificate(s): On-demand Air Taxi
Type of Flight Operation: Positioning
Reg. Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

Last Depart. Point: Harlingen, TX Condition of Light: Night


Destination: El Paso, TX Weather Info Src: Weather Observation Facility
Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Basic Weather: Visual Conditions
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10.00 SM
Wind Dir/Speed: 140 / 010 Kts
Temperature (°C): 11
Precip/Obscuration:

Pilot-in-Command Age: 63 Flight Time (Hours)

Certificate(s)/Rating(s) Total All Aircraft: 20000


Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial; Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Last 90 Days: Unk/Nr
Total Make/Model: Unk/Nr
Instrument Ratings Total Instrument Time: 2600
Airplane

The twin-turbojet, transport-category airplane was destroyed when it departed controlled flight during descent into its final destination
and impacted terrain. The flight was cleared to descend from FL 390 to 10,000 feet, and the flight crew established a 4,000-foot/minute
descent. As the airplane descended through FL 219, air traffic control requested the pilot contact approach control. However, the pilot
read back an incorrect frequency and spoke an unintelligible word. The controller attempted to correct the pilot; however, no additional
communications were received from the flight crew. Located within a pause in the pilot's last transmission, a 1680 Hz frequency could be
heard for 0.1 seconds. There are only two systems in the airplane with aural warning systems within that frequency range; the cabin
altitude warning, and the overspeed warning (both systems were destroyed during the accident sequence). Shortly after the last
transmission from the pilot, radar data depicted the airplane climbing back up to FL 231 before entering a steep and rapid descent. A
performance study indicated that just prior to the loss of control, the airplane exceeded its maximum operating airspeed of 300 knots
calibrated. However, according to the manufacturer, the airplane had been successfully flown at airspeeds up to 400 knots calibrated
without loss of control. The right wing and sections of the right horizontal stabilizer/elevator separated from the airplane just prior
to its impact with terrain and were located approximately 200-250 feet from the main impact crater. No anomalies with the airframe or
engine were found that would have led to the loss of control. A cockpit voice recorder was installed in the accident airplane; however,
it did not record the accident flight.
Brief of Accident (Continued)

FTW02FA048
File No. 15284 12/10/2001 Sierra Blanca, TX Aircraft Reg No. N997TD Time (Local): 18:21 MST

Occurrence #1: LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT


Phase of Operation: DESCENT - NORMAL

Findings
1. (C) REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED
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Occurrence #2: IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER


Phase of Operation: DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED

Findings
2. TERRAIN CONDITION - GROUND

Findings Legend: (C) = Cause, (F) = Factor


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The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
loss of control during descent for undetermined reasons.

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